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PULLUVANPAATTU
Pulluvanpaattu or say serpent worship through song is an age old ritual in Kerala. Pulluva community is professed in this art. The songs of Pulluvanpaattu are connected to ritual worship, custom and exorcism.
The Pulluva community’s presiding deity is serpent god. The ritual is performed in snake groves and temples where serpent god is worshipped.
Pulluvanpaattu is known in different names. Sarpapaattu, Sarpakalam, Pambumkalam, Naagapaattu, Sarpam Thullal etc are its other names. In whatever nomenclature it is known, drawing of a picture depicting serpents, snake-oriented songs and dances are indispensable rituals.
Formalities
Women alone are entitled to perform Sarpam Thullal (serpent dance). The dancer undergoes certain set traditional practices of penance. She undertakes 7 days preceding austerities. During this period she is prohibited consuming foods prepared by others including the members of her family. Likewise, some food items considered impure and inauspicious are also forbidden.
Pandal (temporary auditorium) for the performance is decorated with various leaves, flowers and nuts. Flowers include of Jasmine, Granium, Chrysanthemum indicum, Lotus, Champa and flower sprouts of coconut and areca-nut. Leaves include of tender coconut palm, banyan and betel. Areca-nut falls in the nut category. Kalam (picture) is drawn with home made rice powder and other color ingredients. The serpent characters like Nagaraajaavu, Naagayakshi, Sarpayakshi, Maninaagam, Karinaagam, Kuzhinaagam, Paranaagam, come to the Kolam venue in set order led by a woman representing Naagarajajaavu (king of serpent). She holds a sword in right hand, and seeds and staff in left hand. Others hold the weapons accredited to them. All of them in a chain circumambulate the Kalam seven times and lay down the weapons.
On completion of the Pooja (ritual) during which Noorum Paalum (lime and milk) are given (supposedly) to the serpents. On completion of the Pooja, the priest or family head (depending upon who conducts the event) gives bunches of coconut flowers to the dancers. On receipt of coconut bunches they get initiated to their task. The intensity of frenzied dance, like bewildered and agitated snakes, passages to high tempo in line with the songs and high pitched music. At this point of time they deliver prophecies. The next stage is for retreat to their human form. They fall flat and disfigure the Kalam with coconut bunches to mark the end of the performance.
Musical instruments
Musical instruments used are Veena (a local instrument), Kutam (earthen pot) and cymbal. These instruments are created by Pulluvar themselves.
Famous Serpent Temples
There are hundreds of outlets for serpent worship in Kerala. Few among them are very famous and thousands of devotees gather and worship on festival days as also on routine days. Mannarsala in Alappuzha district, Paambum Mekkaat in Thrissur district, Perasseri temple in Kannur district, Ametamangalam in Ernakulam district and Trippara temple in Kollam district are very famous.
